Francis House of Prayer

TrenTON DIOCESAN SPIRITUAL CENTER

WELCOME TO OUR NEW HOMEOPEN HOUSE

Sunday, March 1 2:00 – 4:00 PM

Come for a visit, to explore this holy place and make it your home, and a new meeting place for God and you. Just look around, visit our chapel, and see the beautiful grounds surrounding our new Francis House of Prayer! All are welcome!

Connect with God through the inspirations of St. Hildegard of Bingen who came to know God deeply through Scripture, nature, music…just to name a few. This most recent woman Doctor of the Church offers us simple ways to be more aware of God’s generous love. Donation: $30, includes materials.

​PERSONAL RETREAT DAY

Wednesday, March 4 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Take a day away from the busyness of your life to rest a while in the Lord and experience God’s presence. Come to Francis House for silence, personal prayer and optional spiritual direction. The day begins and ends with a brief prayer together. Come to as many as you can. Donation: $10; $40 with spiritual direction. Please bring a bag lunch.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON RETREATLOVE COSTS EVERYTHING

3:00 PM Liturgy Sunday, March 8 1:00 – 4:00 PM

In the Eucharistic Liturgy we participate in the Mystery of Christ pouring out His Body and Blood for the world. As we view the film Of Gods and Men, we will witness that same unconditional love for others. Please let this afternoon retreat become a part of your Lenten journey. Donation: $15.

This evening retreat will deepen your relationship with Jesus in his Passion, Death and Resurrection. Ronald Rolheiser, OMI, helps us connect our suffering to Jesus, and Jesus’ suffering to ours. His book will be invaluable to anyone who has ever suffered or struggled in life… which is to say, everyone. Donation: $25, includes book.

THE GRACE OF “IN-BETWEEN” Thursday, March 12 6:30 – 8:00 PM

“In-between” is both uncomfortable and transformative! We will use some of William Bridge’s classic work on transition to help us enter more fully into the Paschal Mystery of dying and rising that transition offers us. Lent is the time to find meaning in it all. Donation: $20, includes materials.

THE MATURING OF YOUR SOULPILGRIMAGE INTO THE LAST THIRD OF LIFE

3 Fridays 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM March 13 April 1 May 15

To age is to transition into the last period of growth. The invitation from God in the final years of life is to deeper intimacy, and to living more courageously, consciously and contemplatively from your soul as you prepare for your eventual transition into new life. We are offering a 3-part series that meets monthly for the 65+ who are in this most graced season of life. We will use Ronald Rolheiser’s video Aging Gracefully, Living Fruitfully as part of our series and read Vesper Time by Frank Cunningham between sessions. Donation: $15 for the book and $25 for each session. Lunch included.

SILENT DIRECTED RETREAT WEEKEND

March 13 – 15 7:00 PM Friday to 1:00 PM Sunday

Due to the frantic pace of contemporary life, it is essential for our spiritual and physical health to take time to pray. A weekend directed retreat offers you the opportunity to experience the graced rhythm of life in which silence and rest restore your body and God revives your soul. Liturgy, spiritual direction and optional contemplative prayer periods are included. Please register early. These fill quickly. Donation: $150/$50 non-refundable deposit with registration.

BEAUTY WILL SAVE THE WORLDPROPHETIC VOICES FOR A CHURCH & WORLD IN CRISIS

Brother Mickey McGrath, OSFS Sunday, March 15 1:00 – 4:00 PM

Saints and prophets appear throughout church history as forward-looking voices of confidence, hope and healing who help us through the uncomfortable process of change and reform. Using his own art and stories, Bro. Mickey will share glimpses of prophetic men and women from the margins whose unique and creative spirits can inspire us to become spiritually mature, let go of fear, and move forward in confidence and hope. Donation: $25.

GOD’S GRACE CAN SET YOU FREE!EARLY-BIRD SPECIAL

3 Tuesdays 8:00 – 9:15 AM March 17, 24 and 31

Are you looking for something to enhance your Lenten Season? Is morning good for you? If so,this is the perfect choice! God wants to set us free from all co-dependency, attachments and addictions. Do you believe that? Are you willing to be set free by God’s grace? This 3-part series will help. St. John of the Cross and Teilhard de Chardin will be our teachers, as we use their treatment of detachment for our instruction and healing. Freedom is possible! How free do you want to be? Donation: $60, includes book.

MAY CHRIST LIVE IN YOUR HEART MAINTAINING INTERIOR PEACE

Wednesday, March 18 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM

We live in a day and age characterized by an extraordinary amount of agitation, fear and anxiety. This tendency manifests itself in our interior as well as our exterior lives. How can we find peace of heart and learn to respond graciously to the upsetting situations we must all face? Would you like to choose the practice of interior peace as the focus of the second half of your Lenten Journey? You will receive a small, readable book for your reflection. Donation: $30, includes book and lunch.

MEDITATION ON THE WAY OF THE CROSS

Friday, March 20 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM

Focusing on several Stations of the Cross, we will ponder the meaning they had two thousand years ago and today. St. Teresa of Calcutta said, “Suffering in itself is nothing: but suffering shared with Christ's passion is a wonderful gift. The most beautiful gift of human beings is that they can share in the passion of Christ. Yes, a gift and a sign of his love; because this is how God proved divine love for the world - by giving Jesus to die for us.” Presenter: JoLynn Krempecki. Donation: Love Offering, includes lunch.

LENTEN WEEKEND RETREAT9 PATHS TO WHOLENESS AND HOLINESS

March 20 – 22 7:00 PM Friday to 1:00 PM Sunday

During this Lenten weekend retreat, we will study 9 different personality types and the path to holiness and interior freedom for each. We are all afflicted and blessed by this human condition of ours. God knows what each of us needs and guides us each along a way to wholeness and holiness that is unique, yet universal. The goal of the weekend is to grow in understanding, acceptance and compassion for ourselves and others. We all need that. What a Lenten gift! Donation: $175/$50 non-refundable deposit. Residents and commuters welcome. All meals provided.THE GIFT OF LIFE & LIFE ETERNAL

2 Tuesdays March 24 & 31 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

At some level we are always preparing for death. It is always before us. We experience dread sometimes and yet are fascinated by the Mystery which is so beyond us! The dying process is the culmination or peak of development – the whole development of the spiritual journey in which the total surrender into God involves the gift of life itself. Death is perhaps the most complete surrender. For that reason, it is not death, but life, a movement into a fullness that we can’t imagine. Trappist Father Thomas Keating, via tape, will lead us through this 2-part retreat. His final days and years were filled with wisdom that we all need as God prepares us for the awesome road ahead. Donation: $25 a session, lunch included.

OVERNIGHT RETREATTENDING TO GOD’S AFFECTION FOR YOU

March 26 – 27 7 PM Thursday – 4 PM Friday

Come for an overnight of silence and prayer during this Lenten Season. Maybe that’s just what the Divine Physician desires for you in order to tend to His affection for you. Come to the program below as part of your retreat if you wish, or simply BE in silence and prayer, as God desires. Donation: $75, includes breakfast and lunch.

A DAY WITH OUR CRUCIFIED LORDTHE 7 LAST WORDS

Friday, March 27 9:30 AM – 1:00 PMJoin us for this special Lenten morning retreat on the Seven Last Words of Christ. We will use Scripture meditations, art and music to allow ourselves to love Christ by accompanying Him in His Passion. Donation: Love Offering, includes a simple meatless lunch.

A FRESH LOOK AT THE SACRAMENTSEVER ANCIENT, EVER NEW

3:00 PM Liturgy Sunday, March 29 1:00 – 4:00 PM

Has our understanding and experience of the sacraments evolved through the years? Let’s take a fresh look at them to see what they mean to us at this time in our lives and how they help us to keep our life in Christ central and fruitful. We’ll conclude our afternoon with Liturgy at 3:00 PM. What better way to spend the 5th Sunday of Lent! Donation: Love Offering.​

March 2020

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Please register for all programs by calling 609-877-0509. Be sure to include your full name and PHONE NUMBER and the title of the program on our voice mail. Registering by phone is preferred!